"Work before play"

Tanner Manor gave Mom and Dad space aplenty for rearing a large brood of children, but they could not afford maids and gardeners to keep the place in good order. Instead, they used their 8000-sq.-ft. suburban home as a laboratory to teach their children how to work. Raised on the mantra “Work before play,” we pitched in a little every day to keep the house clean inside and the yards tamed outside.
 
Mom and Dad were a united front in teaching us to work. Their goals extended far beyond having a clean, organized home, but we didn’t know that until years later. All we knew was that hard work, family unity, and fun were not always cozy partners.
 
We did know that dirt was the enemy. Mom taught us to go after dirt and disorder with a vengeance. Dad supported her efforts, frequently chiming in with one of his favorite truisms: “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Although few of us could work with the same speed, gusto, and endurance as Mom, we dutifully washed, wiped, scoured, and scrubbed.

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